How many pairs of scrubs should I purchase initially?

[loveoutloud]

I am officially done classes (yay!) and have four exams to go for my classroom based part of school. In January, I will begin my 12 week practicum on a surgical floor. How many pairs of scrubs do you own and how may do you recommend purchasing to start with? I will be working 12 hour shifts, usually 3 days in a row with two days off. Would 5 be a good number?

[Despareux]

Four pair you can mix and match. Keep at least one pair of your nursing school pants.

[CrossCountryRN2008]

At least 3 but more like 6 sets. Spare set comes in handy. Plus if you work OT, it is nice to have extra in case you are too tired for laundry

[krisiepoo]

Keep at least one pair of your nursing school pants.

My nursing school pants were white, I'm having a burning party myself as I NEVER plan on wearing them again ;-)

[schnookimz]

My nursing school pants were white I'm having a burning party myself as I NEVER plan on wearing them again ;-)[/quote']

I remember the last day I took them off, crushed them into a ball, threw them on the floor and did the happy dance. I will never ever ever wear them again!!!!

[sharpeimom]

When I worked 3 12's in a row, then had four days off, I had two weeks worth of uniforms. I worked at the state psych hospital and RNs wore Docker type pants in khaki or navy with white or navy polo shirts that had our first names and last initials plus RN embroidered on them. I always kept a bag with spare pants, two tops, undies, socks, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste --just in case! The spares weren't part of my uniform count.

Our washer faces north and despite several attempts by plumbers and contractors, the silly thing freezes solid when it gets very cold.

The spares are wonderful. Remember, you don't have to buy them all at once and don't be embarrassed to ask for tem as gifts at holidays!

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

How often do you do laundry?

Count the number of days between laundry days. Add one to that number. That's the number of scrubs you should buy.

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

Hmmm. I still wear white pants fairly often, simply because they match just about every top I have. If I wear white pants, I will wear white shoes and white socks, of course. Our endoscopy nurses and some of the other areas wear white every day. I have a closet full of scrubs, in every size, because I, too, am a scrub hoarder! Sometimes I see someone wearing the same print top I bought years ago.

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

Sharpeimom is right! I carry a tote bag with toothpaste, toothbrush, ibuprophen and any other type of medication I might need, such as acid reducers, allergy pills, etc. Since you can't just "run out" and leave your patients, carry a tote bag with whatever you might need if you end up working a double. Always keep that extra set of scrubs washed and ready to wear in case you have a "weather" problem, like frozen pipes, no electricity, etc. Just about every scrub shop I have been in has "sale" racks; my local shop always has a large one and will mark scrubs down to ten bucks; you don't have to spend a lot of money on them.